The Best Film-Noir Ever

Based on the rating system in IMDb, it would be great to know everybody's (the ones who visit top-tens.com) opinion of these milestones of the golden age of Hollywood movies: the great noirs by the greats of Billy Wilder, Hitchcock or Orson Welles. Femme Fatales, sensuality, murder stories, detectives and dark moods combined with sad endings made this genre true.

The Top TenXW

1Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Blvd. Is one of the best movies of all time. And one of the best noirs as well. It is just a beautifully told story. - beasthound

So cool and so dark... Double Indemnity is just about the slickest thriller I've ever seen. Billy Wilder is the undisputed master of dialogue.

3Mulholland Drive

4The Third Man

Orson Welles. 'Nuff said. - InsertNameHere

5Chinatown

6High And Low

7Out of the Past

This one gets my vote even though I can make strong cases for both the big sleep and the maltese falcon. the third man is one the best movies ever made but I don't consider that totally noir. Out of the Past is the most perfect example of this genre.

This might be my favourite film of all time. Casablanca is also an excellent candidate, but this is more of a classic film noir. Humphrey Bogart is his usual charismatic self, and my favourite actor of all time, Peter Lorre, plays an important part. - beatles